Sherwood new Villa manager

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) – Aston Villa has hired Tim Sherwood as its new manager, three days after firing Paul Lambert with the club in the relegation zone in the Premier League.

Sherwood, who was fired by Tottenham at the end of last season, has signed a contract through the end of the 2017-18 season.

Villa’s American owner, Randy Lerner, said Saturday that “while being forever conscious of the frustrations that we all suffer, we feel that a change that offers a positive, fresh approach will be very good for the club.”

Villa says in a statement that Sherwood is one of English football’s most highly sought-after managers.